Rice University School of Social Sciences

to a recent summer of opportunities for School of Social Sciences students who are shaping the future:

🌎 We sent three Rice University Master of Global Affairs students to the Institute for Global Negotiation for the 2024 Global Negotiation Conference in Zurich and three MGA students to the Humanitarian Affairs Asia 12th Annual University Scholar’s Leadership Symposium in Bangkok. Our MGA students engaged with peers and leaders from around the world learning skills in collaboration, global negotiation, and service-learning.

🌟 Our Moody Gateway Summer Fellows interned at The Menninger Clinic, Ounce of Care, The Council on Recovery, and The Irish Heritage School. Our focus on high impact practices through experiential learning led our students to consider new career paths and gain valuable skills working among diverse populations, integrative research experiences, and mentoring from the very best site supervisors.

🏆 Last but not least, our Rice University Master of Energy Economics students interned at multinational organizations, and our Rice University Master of Social Policy Evaluation students completed a real-world evaluation for Alief Independent School District through the Texas Policy Lab.

What will inspire YOU to Shape the Future for this new school year?

A Summer of Global Experiences for Rice MGA Students!
This summer, several Rice University Master of Global Affairs (MGA) students had the enriching opportunity to attend two international conferences, expanding their skills and networks in meaningful ways:
- At the Institute for Global Negotiation’s 2024 Global Negotiation Conference in Zurich, students explored the theme "Negotiating the Governance of Emerging Technologies." Highlights included engaging in simulation activities and networking with global experts.
- The Humanitarian Affairs Asia 12th Annual University Scholars Leadership Symposium in Bangkok focused on leadership and advocacy. Students experienced a program centered on character building and global change.

LEARN MORE: https://socialsciences.rice.edu/news/summer-global-experiences-mga-students

This fall, we are thrilled to welcome John Baugh to the Department of Linguistics at Rice University. As a Barbara Jordan Distinguished Professor of Linguistics, Baugh is a distinguished member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and has served as president of both the Linguistic Society of America (LSA) and the American Dialect Society.

Baugh, who holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, has an illustrious academic background, including recent tenure as the Margaret Bush Wilson Distinguished University Professor at Washington University in St. Louis. His research spans multiple disciplines, including African American studies, urban studies, and psychological and brain sciences, with a notable focus on linguistic human rights and linguistic profiling.

A pioneer in the field, Baugh's work has had a significant impact on addressing racial and linguistic disparities, and his TEDx Talk on linguistic profiling has garnered widespread attention. His publications include influential books such as Beyond Ebonics and Black Street Speech.

Dean Rachel Kimbro and Provost Amy Dittmar express enthusiasm for Baugh's arrival, noting his remarkable scholarship and commitment to justice. His addition to our faculty is expected to bring new insights and perspectives to the Department of Linguistics and beyond.

Please join us in welcoming John Baugh to Rice University!

Read More: https://socialsciences.rice.edu/news/renowned-american-academy-arts-and-sciences-member-john-baugh-joins-department-linguistics

Congratulations to Olympian and Rice MGA alum Erna Gunnarsdottir on this incredible accomplishment!

Gunnarsdottir says it’s a ‘dream’ to represent Rice, Iceland in 2024 Paris Olympics Rice track and field’s Erna Gunnarsdottir competed on the world stage Aug. 8, representing her home country of Iceland and Rice University in the shot put at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

This fall, the School of Social Sciences is pleased to welcome ten new tenure-track faculty members to its roster of exceptional scholars. The cohort of new hires will cover multiple departments and contribute to a wide range of research specialties.

“We are delighted to welcome our largest-ever cohort of new faculty to the School of Social Sciences,” said Rachel Kimbro, dean of the School of Social Sciences. “We look forward to their many contributions to the Rice University community.”

Learn more: https://socialsciences.rice.edu/news/ten-new-tenure-track-faculty-members-welcomed-school-social-sciences

Registration for the 2024 STaRT@Rice is now open! Undergraduate and graduate students, academics, alumni, and business and medical professionals are all invited to be a part of this premier statistical training and research methods program, held at Rice University on October 11-14. Scholarship applications for students and early bird pricing end September 2. Space is limited so reserve your spot today! startapply.rice.edu

Registration for the 2024 STaRT@Rice opens next week on Monday, August 5! Undergraduate and graduate students, academics, alumni, and business and medical professionals are all invited to be a part of this premier statistical training and research methods program, held at Rice University on October 11-14. For more information about the workshop schedule, scholarship opportunities, and more, visit https://start.rice.edu/. Registration link coming soon!

In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, Rice University experts are available to discuss the storm and its impact: https://news.rice.edu/news/2024/rice-experts-available-discuss-impact-hurricane-beryl

Last month, Melissa Cloutier, a psychological sciences doctoral student studying human-computer interaction and human factors (HCI/HF), co-led a team of 10 Rice University students, including HCI/HF doctoral student Shrreya Aagarwal, and one Rice alum, in the NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Spacesuit User Interface Technologies for Students (NASA SUITS) challenge. This is the second year in a row that Cloutier has participated in NASA SUITS.

In her research, Cloutier works with virtual reality to understand how people make timing decisions when crossing the street based on when they believe a vehicle would reach them. She primarily works with older adults with central vision loss, observing whether there are differences in eye movements between if they only see a vehicle approaching versus if they see and hear a vehicle approaching.

Aagarwal is currently working on an extension to the ACT-R cognitive architecture to include visual grouping processes to help gain understanding of why people may make errors while voting and to make recommendations to improve efficiency and accuracy. Aargarwal has previously worked on projects regarding transparency in AI, task order effects on the system usability scale, and data analysis projects in soccer and Formula 1.

For this year's NASA SUITS, teams were given an augmented reality headset and tasked with creating a user-friendly interface that gets tested in NASA's rock yard. Using their HCI/HF knowledge base and experience, Cloutier and Aagarwal served integral roles on the Rice NASA SUITS team.

Learn more: https://news.rice.edu/news/2024/revolutionizing-human-spaceflight-experience-rice-students-design-augmented-reality 🌕🌠🪐🧑🏽‍🚀👩🏻‍🚀🔭

Photos: NASA JSC Office of STEM Engagement

This past spring, Social Sciences students in the Frances Anne Moody-Dahlberg Gateway program had an exciting visit to Nasdaq as part of the Finance and Banking Externship to NYC! 🦉📈🔔🗽

The Society for American Archaeology recently announced the 2024 winners of the Dienje Kenyon Memorial Fellowship, marking the second consecutive year that the award has been given to archaeology students in the anthropology department of Rice’s School of Social Sciences. Maggie Katongo and Sylvia Wemanya were awarded the fellowship in 2024 and 2023, respectively.

“This is a major recognition from our field’s most prominent professional organization,” said Mary Prendergast, associate professor of anthropology. “It is a real testament to our PhD program that Rice University archaeology students have won it two years in a row.”

Read more: https://socialsciences.rice.edu/news/social-sciences-archaeology-graduate-students-win-prestigious-dienje-kenyon-memorial

“Cathryn and Patti have shown steadfast dedication to our university, which will guide their advocacy for our diverse stakeholders. Rice’s future holds significant opportunities, and our new trustees will play a pivotal role in shaping it.”

Thank you to Cathryn Selman ’78 and Patti Kraft ’87 for your continued dedicated service to Rice University! https://news.rice.edu/news/2024/selman-joins-rice-board-trustees-kraft-reelected

Selman joins Rice Board of Trustees, Kraft reelected Rice University has announced the appointment of Cathryn Selman ’78 and the reelection of Patti Kraft ’87 to its board of trustees. Both distinguished alumnae will serve four-year terms starting July 1.

The School of Social Sciences is excited to announce the launch of the Public Service Practicum, which will start during the Fall 2024 semester under the Frances Anne Moody-Dahlberg Gateway Program. The course will be co-taught by Mayor Annise Parker '78 and Judge Ed Emmett '71.

With Parker and Emmett leading the course in Fall 2024, just in time for the upcoming election season, students will have the unique opportunity to gain valuable insight from two of Houston’s most prominent public service leaders. Parker served as mayor of Houston from 2010 to 2016, and Emmett served as county judge of Houston from 2007 to 2018. During their years as elected city officials, Parker and Emmett demonstrated a keen ability to work together and across party lines to bring about impactful change to Houston.

Learn More: https://socialsciences.rice.edu/news/school-social-sciences-launch-gateway-public-service-practicum-led-by-parker-and-emmett

The accolades keep coming in! Hear from our social sciences faculty, James DeNicco, economics, and Özge Gürcanlı Fischer-Baum, psychological sciences, who received the 2024 George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching: https://news.rice.edu/news/2024/faculty-recognized-award-superior-teaching Rice University

Faculty recognized with award for superior teaching Nine Rice University faculty members received the 2024 George R. Brown Award for Superior Teaching, which honors top Rice instructors based on votes from alumni who graduated within the past two, three and five years.

At the end of each year, Rice University honors members of the university community who have provided outstanding service to students. Congratulations to this year's School of Social Sciences honorees! 🎉🎉🎉 https://news.rice.edu/news/2024/faculty-staff-students-honored-excellence-teaching-mentoring-service

Faculty, staff, students honored for excellence in teaching, mentoring, service Each year, Rice honors members of the university community who have served students through outstanding teaching, dedication and service.

"Research on racial identity and fair pay, mental and physical health, foreign affairs and other topics was on display at the Social Sciences Undergraduate Research + Creative Symposium (SSURS) held April 11 at Rice University’s Kraft Hall.

With plans for it to become an annual event, SSURS serves as a showcase for the depth and diversity of research undertaken by undergraduate scholars from the Rice School of Social Sciences. It included oral and poster presentations of different student research projects completed throughout the academic year under the supervision of faculty members."

Learn more about the event and this year's winners: https://news.rice.edu/news/2024/student-research-highlighted-during-social-sciences-undergraduate-research-creative

Article: Amy McCaig, Rice News

Student research highlighted during Social Sciences Undergraduate Research + Creative Symposium Research on racial identity and fair pay, mental and physical health, foreign affairs and other topics was on display at the Social Sciences Undergraduate Research + Creative Symposium (SSURS) held April 11 at Rice University’s Kraft Hall.

We did it! Because of you, the School of Social Sciences raised $70,030 for the Dean's Discretionary Fund through the 24-Hour Challenge! WOW! Your generosity helps educate and enrich the lives of students and ensures that our Owls have the resources they need to thrive. Thank you! Rice University Rice Annual Fund

24 hours. 100% all in for Rice University Today, when 4,000 alumni and student donors give to the challenge, Social Sciences alum Walt Greenberg '78 will donate $300,000 to Rice. Make your 24-Hour Challenge gift to the School of Social Sciences Dean's Discretionary Fund, and help support our talented students: https://www.givecampus.com/67o3ge Rice Annual Fund

We’re 1 day away from Rice University’s 24-Hour Challenge! When you give to the School of Social Sciences Dean's Discretionary Fund, you help us meet our goal of $20,000 to support the School's efforts to educate and enrich the lives of students. Learn more: https://www.givecampus.com/67o3ge Rice Annual Fund

"The sun, our sun. Our star. A fiery, fuming benefactor. The force animating all lifeforms...The sun is a force, but it is also a source of myth and symbol." The new book Solarities, co-edited by Cymene Howe and featuring work by Dominic Boyer, Rice University Anthropology explores complex human and non-human relationships to the sun. ☀️ https://news.rice.edu/news/2024/solarities-examines-complex-relationships-humans-have-sun

Save the date! The School of Social Sciences invites all graduates (undergraduate, master’s, and PhD) and their families to a celebratory drop-in lunch! Stop by Kraft Hall 130 on May 3 between 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm for delicious fajitas, margaritas, and the best owl cookies, and help us honor the many achievements of our newest graduates. No RSVP is needed.

Congratulations to Danielle King, psychological sciences, for receiving a resolution from the 88th Texas Legislative session for receiving a 2023 CAREER Award from the Faculty Early Career Development Program of the National Science Foundation! https://news.rice.edu/news/2024/texas-state-rep-ann-johnson-honors-rice-faculty-researchers-and-alumni-proclamations Rice University

Article: Amy McCaig, Rice News

Texas State Rep. Ann Johnson honors Rice faculty, researchers and alumni with proclamations Texas State Rep. Ann Johnson, whose legislative district includes Rice University, visited campus Feb. 29 to present resolutions from the 88th Texas Legislative session to Rice faculty, researchers and alumni.

The School of Social Sciences is excited to announce Rice University's investment in five research centers, which include the Center for Coastal Futures and Adaptive Resilience (CFAR), led Dominic Boyer, professor of anthropology, and James Elliott, professor and chair of sociology, and the Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies, a joint center with the School of Humanities!

Learn more: https://news.rice.edu/news/2024/coastal-resilience-improved-cancer-care-latinx-communities-and-more-focus-rice-announces

Coastal resilience, improved cancer care, Latinx communities and more in focus as Rice announces investment in research centers The centers are the Rice Center for Nanoscale Imaging Sciences, Synthesis X Center, Center for Environmental Studies, Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies, and Center for Coastal Futures and Adaptive Resilience.